Rosaries, Prayer Ropes, Chotkis, Prayer Beads. All are a way of simply staying focused on prayer. While the focus of prayer is spiritual and sometimes mental, as humans we find that something tangible helps. The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into a contemplative, meditative prayer—really thinking about and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God—by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still.
The Rugged Rosaries' Anglican Prayer Beads.
- Anglican prayer beads have 33 beads divided into four weeks of seven, four cruciform beads representing the cross, and an invitatory bead.
- There are four seasons in the solar year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Many religious holy days, like Christmas and Easter fall around the equinox or change points of these seasons.
- There are four sets of seven "weeks" recalling the Jewish and Christian belief in the perfection of the number seven; there are also the seven days of Creation, the seven days of the week, the seven seasons of the church year, and the seven sacraments of the church. Four The seven beads, the weeks, are also associated with completion or spiritual perfection.
- Jesus’ life on Earth was 33 years.
- The prayer beads form a circle. Praying through the beads symbolizes one's journey through time.
- Four silver-colored beads called "cruciforms" separate these four weeks; equally spaced in the circle of the rosary, they form a cross and reminds us of four seasons and four directions of the compass.
- Attached to the last cruciform is an "invitatory," from which hangs a the unique silver cross with a handmade hammered look.
- Paracord is used to create these making them truly rugged and unbreakable. They last a lifetime and more.
The Rugged Rosaries Anglican Jesus Prayer Beads are available HERE.
There are several traditional and contemporary prayers available, or you can assemble a set of prayers on your own. For example, try finding a Bible verse, psalm, or prayer that resounds with you.
- Assign thoughts or prayers to the cross and to each bead. As far as possible, commit these to memory so they flow naturally and are not a distraction.
- Allow enough time to work through the beads in an unhurried pace. Find a place that is quiet, where you can be undisturbed.
- Start and end with a moment of silence. Get centered. The idea is to pray meditatively.
SAMPLES.
Hold the Cross, beginning with one of the following “Blessed be the one, holy, and living God. Glory to God forever and ever.” OR “I bless the Lord.”
Move to the Invitatory bead and saying -
“O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.”
At each of the seven smaller (week) beads; from Julian of Norwich
“All shall be well, and all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.
At each of the four Cruciform Beads
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).
Closing your prayers
After one or more circuits around the prayer beads, you may finish back at the invitatory bead with:
The Lord’s Prayer, “I bless the Lord” or “In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
